For children, teenagers and young people, counselling is often brought up during times of bullying or difficulties with school. It is difficult to vocalise the challenges that you go through and how this progress as you navigate your way to adulthood. Simple fears, such as navigating unknown areas, being slower, or appearing “different” for your peers are frequently shared to me in these clinics. With some young people, this is expressed through frustration and anger. Some young people keep this bottled in completely.
I have found that children who are in contact with other visually impaired peers and friends are able to better navigate these conversations. Sometimes simply talking to someone else who physically goes through what you go through can feel like medicine. They share with me that they moan, complain and even laugh about common accidents or fun activities. For anyone who finds it navigate through their frustrations or emotions, counselling is always a good option.
I consider counselling for most children and families who have visual impairment. Navigating the world through visual impairment should not be a solitary journey. Although we want to ultimately focus on building independence, it is important for us to make sure that we have a support system in place.
I’ve spoken with many parents who share their own anxieties, often feeling like they are constantly in “fight mode” because they have had to advocate for their child’s rights and push through what feels to be a
constant stream of obstacles.
Over time, this is exhausting. Life circumstances, catchment areas, struggles with council support and even just the general public’s misconceptions around visual impairment can mean that certain children receive less support than others. We cannot ignore the emotional toll that this takes on families when these issues remain unaddressed.
Author: Priya Bhambra